On August 12, 2025, late-night host Jimmy Kimmel revealed a surprising contingency plan, disclosing on The Sarah Silverman Podcast that he has obtained Italian citizenship as a potential escape from the U.S. political climate. The announcement, reported by Yahoo and CNN, has sparked widespread discussion, with fans on X speculating about whether Kimmel, 57, is seriously considering a move to Italy. His candid remarks, made amid a summer hiatus from Jimmy Kimmel Live!, suggest a deeper unease with America’s direction, particularly under President Donald Trump’s second term.

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Kimmel, a vocal Trump critic, confirmed his dual citizenship, stating, “I did get Italian citizenship,” during a conversation with Silverman about celebrities like Rosie O’Donnell and Ellen DeGeneres relocating abroad. He qualified his Italian roots through his maternal great-grandparents from Campania, as verified by Italy’s ANSA news agency, per visaverge.com. “What’s going on is… as bad as you thought it was going to be, it’s so much worse,” Kimmel said, expressing dismay at the political landscape. His contract with ABC, set to expire in 2026, adds uncertainty, with Men’s Journal noting his hints that the show may end.

The timing of Kimmel’s revelation coincides with Trump’s July 2025 Truth Social post claiming Jimmy Kimmel Live! faces cancellation, following the end of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. Kimmel’s response—a photo from an anti-Trump protest in Jackson Hole with a sign reading “MAKE AMERICA GOOD AGAIN”—underscored his defiance, per KRDO. Yet, his Italian citizenship, secured before Italy’s 2025 Law No. 74 tightened descent rules, offers a practical exit, as detailed by visaverge.com. X users are divided, with posts like, “Jimmy’s smart to have a backup,” and others, “He’s abandoning America? Weak.”

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Kimmel’s potential move hasn’t been confirmed, but he’s made no secret of his disillusionment. “The door needs to stay open,” he told Silverman, advocating for acceptance of those regretting past political choices. His wife, Molly McNearney, Jimmy Kimmel Live!’s head writer, joined him at the protest, signaling family alignment, per Yahoo. While Kimmel joked about voting for Trump “three times,” his serious tone suggests Italy could be more than a backup plan.

As Jimmy Kimmel Live! nears its 2026 contract end, the host’s citizenship news fuels speculation about his future. Is this a strategic retreat or a symbolic stand? For now, Kimmel’s Italian option keeps fans guessing about his next chapter.